Advanced Energy Announces 2007 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Financial Results

Advanced Energy Announces 2007 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Financial Results

FORT COLLINS, Colo., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: AEIS) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2007. Sales were $83.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2007, in line with the Company's revised guidance announced on January 22, 2008. This represented a decrease of 19.8% from $104.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, and a sequential decline of 7.4% from $90.5 million in the third quarter of 2007, driven primarily by further declines in the semiconductor equipment industry and order delays by key OEMs.

Gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2007 was 39.1%, down from 42.9% in the fourth quarter of 2006, and down from 40.6% in the third quarter of 2007, due to lower sales.

Net income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2007 was $4.2 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared to $39.4 million, or $0.87 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2006, which includes a tax benefit of $23.5 million related to the reversal of a valuation allowance for deferred taxes. Net income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2006, adjusted to exclude such tax benefit, was $15.9 million or $0.35 per diluted share. Net income from continuing operations also decreased sequentially from $5.9 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2007.

Sales were $384.7 million for 2007, a 6.3% decrease from $410.7 million in 2006. Net income from continuing operations for 2007 was $34.4 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, compared to $87.2 million, or $1.93 per diluted share, in 2006. Net income from continuing operations for 2006, adjusted to exclude the tax benefit mentioned above, was $63.7 million, or $1.41 per diluted share.

"While 2007 was a challenging year for Advanced Energy, we have seen growth in our solar business including the successful launch of our Solaron(TM) inverter product. However, declines in the semiconductor equipment market pressured our sales once again in the fourth quarter," said Dr. Hans Betz, president and chief executive officer of Advanced Energy. "As we move into 2008, we continue to focus on the diversification of our business and are working to drive down our costs, thereby positioning Advanced Energy for growth and profitability."

First Quarter 2008 Guidance

The Company anticipates first quarter 2008 financial results to be within the following ranges:

    --  Sales of $82 million to $88 million
    --  Earnings per share of $0.07 to $0.11
    --  Effective tax rate of 32%

Fourth Quarter 2007 Conference Call

Management will host a conference call today, Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 5:00 pm eastern standard time to discuss Advanced Energy's financial results. You may access this conference call by dialing (888) 713-4717. International callers may access the call by dialing (706) 634-7937. Participants will need to provide a conference passcode 31990872. For a replay of this teleconference, please call (800)-642-1687 or (706) 645-9291 utilizing the same passcode. The replay will be available through February 11, 2008. A webcast will also be available on Advanced Energy's Investor Relations webpage at http://ir.advanced-energy.com.

About Advanced Energy

Advanced Energy(R) develops innovative power and control technologies that enable high-growth, plasma-based thin-film manufacturing processes worldwide, including semiconductors, flat panel displays, data storage products, solar cells, architectural glass, and other advanced product applications. Advanced Energy(R) also develops grid-connect inverters for the solar energy market.

This press release presents the company's net income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2006, as adjusted to exclude a tax benefit of $23.5 million related to the reversal of a valuation allowance for deferred taxes. Such adjusted financial information for each period is a non-GAAP financial measure. Net income from continuing operations, also presented in this press release, is the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). A reconciliation of the differences between the non-GAAP financial measures we reference with such comparable GAAP financial measures are included at the end of this press release. Management believes that the non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release provide a useful measure of the company's operating results and a meaningful comparison with the company's 2007 operating results. Management and the board of directors of the company utilize these non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, to evaluate and compare the company's operating performance against internal financial forecasts and budgets, as well as current operating performance. Management and the board of directors, however, do not consider the non-GAAP financial measures to be a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with GAAP.

The Company's expectations with respect to financial results for the first quarter of 2008 are forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the volatility and cyclicality of the industries the company serves, particularly the semiconductor equipment industry, the timing of orders received from customers, the company's ability to realize cost improvement benefits from the global operations initiatives underway, and unanticipated changes to management's estimates, reserves or allowances. Implementation of the board-authorized repurchase of up to $75 million of the company's stock also may affect the anticipated earnings per share set forth in this press release. These and other risks are described in Advanced Energy's Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q and other reports and statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports and statements are available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Copies may also be obtained from Advanced Energy's website at http://www.advanced-energy.com or by contacting Advanced Energy's investor relations at 970-407-6555. Forward looking statements are based on information available to the company on the date of this press release. The company assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release.



    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
    (in thousands, except per share data)

                                     Three Months Ended    Twelve Months Ended
                                  December 31,  September 30,  December 31,
                                 2007      2006     2007      2007      2006

    Sales                      $83,836  $104,533  $90,492  $384,700  $410,742
    Cost of sales               51,017    59,639   53,765   221,891   235,524
    Gross profit                32,819    44,894   36,727   162,809   175,218

    Operating expenses:
      Research and
       development              12,510    12,240   12,937    50,393    44,848
      Selling, general and
       administrative           16,075    15,535   15,537    62,243    61,037
      Amortization of
       intangible assets           218       450      201       945     1,833
      Restructuring charges       (219)       20      556     3,287       111
        Total operating
         expenses               28,584    28,245   29,231   116,868   107,829

    Income from operations       4,235    16,649    7,496    45,941    67,389

    Other income, net            1,443     1,060      308     4,810     4,677
    Income from continuing
     operations before income
     taxes                       5,678    17,709    7,804    50,751    72,066
    Provision for income taxes  (1,512)   21,697   (1,948)  (16,390)   15,118
      Income from continuing
       operations                4,166    39,406    5,856    34,361    87,184

    Gain on sale of
     discontinued assets             -     1,000        -         -     1,138

      Income from discontinued
       operations                    -     1,000        -         -     1,138

    Net income                  $4,166   $40,406   $5,856   $34,361   $88,322

    Net income per basic share
      Income  from continuing
       operations                $0.09     $0.88    $0.13     $0.76     $1.95
      Income from discontinued
       operations                   $-     $0.02       $-        $-     $0.03
      Basic earnings per share   $0.09     $0.90    $0.13     $0.76     $1.97

    Net income per diluted share
      Income from continuing
       operations                $0.09     $0.87    $0.13     $0.75     $1.93
      Income from discontinued
       operations                   $-     $0.02       $-        $-     $0.03
      Diluted earnings per share $0.09     $0.89    $0.13     $0.75     $1.95

    Basic weighted-average
     common shares outstanding  45,274    44,826   45,248    45,156    44,721

    Diluted weighted-average
     common shares outstanding  45,758    45,345   45,761    45,704    45,265



    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
    (in thousands)

                                              December 31,      December 31,
                                                  2007              2006

    ASSETS

    Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                 $94,588           $58,240
      Marketable securities                     110,676            85,978
      Accounts receivable, net                   64,188            74,794
      Inventories, net                           50,532            52,778
      Deferred income taxes                      23,696            24,434
      Assets held for sale                            -                 -
      Other current assets                        4,289             4,503
    Total current assets                        347,969           300,727

    Property and equipment, net                  30,912            33,571

    Deposits and other                            7,045             2,640
    Goodwill and intangibles, net                67,768            65,584
    Customer service equipment, net               1,236               832
    Deferred income tax assets, net               4,098             8,549

    Total assets                               $459,028          $411,903


    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Current liabilities:
      Trade accounts payable                    $12,424           $16,310
      Other accrued expenses                     29,590            36,619
    Total current liabilities                    42,014            52,929

    Long-term liabilities                         9,953             3,184

    Total liabilities                            51,967            56,113

    Stockholders' equity                        407,061           355,790
    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity                                    $459,028          $411,903



    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP EARNINGS TO "ADJUSTED" EARNINGS
    (in thousands, except per share data)


                           Three Months Ended       Twelve Months Ended
                           December 31, 2006         December 31, 2006
                       GAAP  Adjustment "Adjusted"  GAAP Adjustment "Adjusted"

    Sales            $104,533       $-   $104,533 $410,742       $-  $410,742
    Cost of sales      59,639        -     59,639  235,524        -   235,524
    Gross profit       44,894        -     44,894  175,218        -   175,218

    Operating expenses 28,245        -     28,245  107,829        -   107,829

    Income from
     operations        16,649        -     16,649   67,389        -    67,389

    Other income
     (expense), net     1,060        -      1,060    4,677        -     4,677

    Income from
     continuing
     operations before
     income taxes      17,709        -     17,709   72,066        -    72,066
    Benefit (provision)
     for income taxes  21,697  (23,492)(1) (1,795)  15,118  (23,492)(1)(8,374)

      Income from
       continuing
       operations      39,406  (23,492)    15,914   87,184  (23,492)   63,692

    Gain on sale of
     discontinued
     assets             1,000        -      1,000    1,138        -     1,138

      Income from
       discontinued
       operations       1,000        -      1,000    1,138        -     1,138

    Net income        $40,406 $(23,492)   $16,914  $88,322 $(23,492)  $64,830

    Net income per
     basic share
      Income from
       continuing
       operations       $0.88   $(0.52)     $0.36    $1.95   $(0.53)    $1.43
      Income from
       discontinued
       operations       $0.02       $-      $0.02    $0.03       $-     $0.03
      Basic earnings
       per share        $0.90   $(0.52)     $0.38    $1.98   $(0.53)    $1.45

    Net income per
     diluted share
      Income from
       continuing
       operations       $0.87   $(0.52)     $0.35    $1.93   $(0.52)    $1.41
      Income from
       discontinued
       operations       $0.02       $-      $0.02    $0.03       $-     $0.03
      Diluted earnings
       per share        $0.89   $(0.52)     $0.37    $1.95   $(0.52)    $1.43

    Basic weighted-
     average common
     shares
     outstanding       44,826                       44,721

    Diluted weighted-
     average common
     shares
     outstanding       45,345                       45,265

    (1)  To eliminate the effect of the reversal of the valuation allowance on
    net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2006.  We assess the
    recoverability of our net deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis, in
    accordance with SFAS No. 109, to determine if it is more likely than not
    that our net deferred tax assets will be realized.  Based on our 2006
    operating results, our management concluded that it was more likely than
    not that the majority of net deferred tax assets would be realized and
    recorded a reduction in the valuation allowance of approximately
    $23.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Website: http://www.advanced-energy.com/




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